Looking for some advice on doing a HIM distance tri in New England. It’ll be my first so I’m looking for a relatively laid back event and have found the Firm Man http://firm-racing.com/events.asp on 6/7 and the Patriot http://www.patriottriathlon.com/ on 6/20. Any feedback on either race?
I can’t help you with either of those races, but you would do well to consider Mooseman on 6/7. Somehow, it manages to be relatively laid back while still being a big hairy deal…my favorite race of the year. (Although Pumpkinman in September is making a push…) You won’t find a more well organized race.
I haven’t done either, but I have done many FIRM events and the cranberry country olympic (by the patriot organizers). I prefer the patriot/cranberry race directors. I think the FIRM events are all very generic and not very unique (since they put on a bunch each year, it seems like they kinda go through the motions). The cranberry/patriot people only put on 2-3 races a year and there is more excitement at these races. All my personal opinion though.
I signed up for the rev3 tri in middlebury on June 7th. Seems like it will be a big event with a huge pro field. Just one more to consider.
Patriot or Mooseman for sure. I did the moose olympic last year and loved it. I HIGHLY recommend Mooseman and will be doing it again this year because it was so well organized and just all around a great experience.
-David
I am DEFINITELY going back to Patriot, I had an awesome race last year.
The earlier Firmman (I spectated and ran part of bike course) got so so reviews from my friends that did it. Patriot however was really well done. Did it and have no complaints , well other than my own shortcomings! Havent done Mooseman or others. If I had to pick just between those two, based on what I experienced/observed, I would say Patriot without thinking twice.
I liked Patriot too but remember, we got crazy lucky with that weather. On a normal early July weekend, you are going to be roasting. And the bike course is 2 miles long and will almost certainly remain that way.
Patriot will be my first HIM - I volunteered last year- laid back, nice folks, good food…
I am doing the Mooseman Oly 2 weeks before - volunteered at that race last year and having biked both courses Patriot is flat - Moose is NOT. For a first HIM I am liking the idea of flat. Then again I am also doing Timberman HIM - but that is the end of august…a bit more time to train the hills.
Firm man is very well done, a spectacular venue in Narragansett (same swim course as the Ironman Rhode Island 70.3 race.) The ocean swim is great. The bike course is a bit of rolling terrain with lots of false flats, not much flat. The run course is residential and 1 lap with a few out & backks to see competition, and an awesome finish with about a 1/4 mile of deep sand at the end to finish on the beach in front of thousands of beachgoers. Makes it a good family event since the kids can just play on the beach while you’re racing.
I did Patriot the first year and even as a first time event, it was well done. It is a bit annoying that the bike is long (the run was long the first year but maybe they have corrected that). Same guys that put on Cranberry which is one of the best events around. I do a decent amount of firm races and really appreciate the sheer number of events they put on. However, as was mentioned about, you don’t get a lot of the bells and whistles that you get with an RD that only puts on a couple of events. There is nothing wrong with Firm, just different.
I am looking for a HIM in that same time frame and haven’t decided yet. Moose is a little early for me so I am down to Patriot, Firmman or Rev3. May go the Rev3 since I live in CT.
“Moose is a little early for me so I am down to Patriot, Firmman or Rev3. May go the Rev3 since I live in CT.”
Mooseman, Firmman, and Rev3 are all on the same day.
Warning - biased comments following (I’m friendly with 2 of the organizers/RD’s of rev3):
I think that rev3 will be the best new event of the year, but it sounds like you’re looking for low-key, and rev3 will certainly not be low-key. This is an event that is being put on with the scale of an NAS event (large pro field, mostly closed roads, huge A/G field with deep talent due to large prizes, GPS tracking, etc.) I’m signed up and looking foward to it, but it sounds like you want more of a grass-roots experience. I did FIRM-man 3 years ago (when it was in the fall), and I thought it was a well run race for a small race (500ish participants). Haven’t done Patriot, so I can’t help you there.
I signed up for Mooseman 1/2 this year. I really have enjoyed the low key New England feel of Mooseman! My family had a great time at the race this past season. Endorfun Sports really puts on a great well organized safe race! What I have really notice is the attention to detail the whole race weekend. There was text messaging, themed aid stations, live music on the course, a moose village with a bonfire and smores, all types of family activities with a surprise apperance from the Mooseman Moose (big hit with the family). The race course is very scenic and you are swimming in one of the cleanest lakes I have ever raced in. Mooseman gets a A+ from me and I would recommend this race to everyone!!!
I signed up for the rev3 tri in middlebury on June 7th. Seems like it will be a big event with a huge pro field. Just one more to consider.
Www.rev3tri.com
I have also. Quassy in Middlebury ct. is a great venue. I have done the Griskus Olympic there for years and it is a lot of fun. Both the bike and the run at Rev3 will be hilly but scenic.
I second all the thoughts on firm man and patriot. I haven’t raced either, but have done other firm races and spectated at the first Patriot 2 years ago. Both RDs are great, but very different. It just depends on what you are looking for in a race.
I signed up the Rev 3 tri in CT. It looks like it is going to be really well run and great for spectators with the GPS tracking. A little more expensive, but it looks like you get what you pay for.
Patriot and Firmman are pretty flat, but if you like hills, don’t automatically assume that Mooseman is hillier than Rev3 because it is in NH. I grew up near Middlebury CT and there are some SERIOUS hills on the course. Judging by the elevation map, it is a lot hillier than mooseman and you don’t have to do multiple loops (like at Mooseman).
I’ve ridden the course 3X so far, and it’s actaully very fair - not as hilly as you would think. I mapped it on www.mapmyride.com and it has the same elevation gain as a loop of IMLP, but more continuously rolling, rather than the 2 distinct “climbing sections” that IMLP has. I live around the area as well, and the course would have been viscous if they had mapped it just west of where they did (still would have been possible out of Quassy). That said - this course will be fast as the pavement is near perfect (also, most of the roads will be closed).
Picture this…
turn on your computer starting the week before the race. Watch the live webcam as the race site is being built…Tuesday, bike racks and fencing. Wednesday, Finish line, tents, portapotties, signage, thursday, more setup. Get a glimpse of Newfound Lake, one of the most pristine lakes in the US…get those juices flowing for the weekend ahead. Look for the Moose online, and win a prize if you let us know at what time he made an appearance. Make sure you place your vote for the music you’d like to hear on the course. Also, sign up for the Text Messaging service, to get all news Moose.
Roll into the MooseExpo on Friday, listen to the live music being belted out by Paul Warnick. Pick up your packet. Wow, this is a pretty hefty goody bag!!! Head over to the inspiration station and grab a cowbell and some foam moose antlers. If the kiddos are with you, make sure they make out a inspiration sign for you. Drive the bike course, and marvel at the views of Newfound Lake, and the surrounding Presidential Range.
If you’re hungry, head to MooseVillage at Camp Wicosuta, for a carbo load dinner with a couple of the legends of the sport. Don’t miss out on the fireside s’mores and campfire music by DrumPlay.
Saturday AM, head to Wellington State Park to watch (or do) the International Tri, or grab some pancakes at MooseVILLAGE. Listen to the National Anthem, and then follow the Bagpiper-lead procession to the catch the swim start.
Shop a little in the MooseExpo, or listen to the bands on the MooseStage. If the kids are game, take them to the Kidz Zone, with facepainting, bouncy house, balloon animals, and arts and crafts. Have 'em join in the MooseCalf Kids K fun run, where they’ll run through the same finish line you will on Sunday. They’ll recieve a great medal and t-shirt.
Saturday evening, a complimentary carbo load dinner is in order, and more s’mores around the campfire, before retiring. You’ve got a busy day ahead of you, so be sure to catch some z’s.
Sunday morning, the alarm goes off early. Get to Wellington early, and get geeked up, listening to the Mouth of the South, Adam Reiser, and the pre-race banter. Follow the bagpiper to the swim start. Then, it’s time for your wave.
The gun goes off, and you head into the crystal-clear waters of Newfound Lake, where it’s so clear you can see the bottom 60 feet down. Jump on a pair of feet. As you get closer to shore, hear the music blasting as the “Welcome Back to Shore” crew is pumped up to greet you.
Run up the beach, but make sure you’ve got your wetsuit leash unzipped, and flop down on the carpet for the wetsuit strippers, and let them do their job. They’ll have your suit off lickety split!
Grab your bike from your numbered bike rack space, and head out on the bike course. Follow the lakeshore as you begin the 56 mile course. At mile 7, beware of the Devil Hill, but El Diablo will be there to inspire you and get you up it. Continue through the beautiful, rolling New England Countryside, by village greens, old churches, farmland and more, on NEW pavement. There will be aid stations every 10 miles to take good care of you. Of course, there will also be great bike tech support from MC Cycle and Mavic, and more than 150 volunteers and Police.
After finishing the bike course, you’ll head out on the run course, which hugs the shores of Newfound Lake, with stunning views and a jaunt past the majestic Granite Ledges. Themed aid stations will be more frequent than every mile, with everything you could imagine: Gatorade, water, de-fizzed Pepsi, energy bars, energy gels, cookies, pretzels, jellybeans, sponges, ice, and fruit. There will also be 4 live bands on course and 10 Sound systems playing your favorite tunes. Remember when you were supposed to vote for the music you wanted to hear on course??? Drumplay will be thumping away, and the beat will carry you up the one tough hill on Beechwood Road.
As you approach the finish line, Adam Reiser will bring you home, along with Jeff in the Bubalaka dress. Cross the finish line and grab your finisher medal, ice cold finisher towel, and finisher waterbottle. Grab some fruit for the new Recovery Area, with fruit and recovery products. After you’re finished with that, grab a massage from Vital Kneads, or some great post-race food, with hamburgers, chicken, pasta salad, bagels, Jordan’s Homemade Ice Cream (yup, I make it:)), Stonyfield Farm Yogurt, pepsi, and BEER…AND MARGARITAS…Yup, there’ll be complimentary beer and Margaritas, which goes great with the post-race band.
If you’re lucky to win an award, step up to the podium and recieve your coveted bottle of Maple Syrup. And, one of the more than $30K in age group cash and prizes. Shake hands with the Moose, or get your pic taken with him.
That, is Mooseman…a race full and heart and passion…Big-time Production, small-town feel…
Mooseman, Firman and Rev 3 are all the weekend of June 7th. The Patriot is Saturday, June 20th.
The Patriot 1.2 mile swim is in the calm, clean waters of Long Pond, the 58 mile bike is 2 loops of a generally flat course and the 13.1 mile run is also generally flat. The bike and run are along country roads, cranberry bogs and scenic water features in southeast MA (about 50 miles due south of Boston). Plenty of aid stations with 4 water bottle exchanges on the bike and one every mile on the run. Great volunteer support. Your registration covers the race, cool swag, post-race catered meal and a chance to win some great giveaways. DJ and live music contribute to a festive atmosphere.
Additional details plus a professionally-made video from the 2008 Patriot with a segment set to Cake’s “The Distance” (one of the best training songs around) can be found here: http://www.sunmultisportevents.com/Patriot_Triathlon.htm. Check out Pat Patriot rooting racers on.
Firm man is very well done, a spectacular venue in Narragansett (same swim course as the Ironman Rhode Island 70.3 race.) The ocean swim is great. The bike course is a bit of rolling terrain with lots of false flats, not much flat. The run course is residential and 1 lap with a few out & backks to see competition, and an awesome finish with about a 1/4 mile of deep sand at the end to finish on the beach in front of thousands of beachgoers. Makes it a good family event since the kids can just play on the beach while you’re racing.
FYI - the swim course is different that the RI 70.3 course. The RI 70.3 swim is in the protected Harbor of Refuge just east of Pt. Judith. The swim for the Firm race (in September) is at the Narragansett Town Beach, about 5 miles to the north. The main difference is the swim in the HOR will be fairly calm no matter what the weather. The swim at the Town Beach is a mixed bag. You could get a late season storm offshore that will make getting off the beach fun or it can be deadnuts calm.